2012 NAIA Men’s Cross Country Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – No. 1

Southern Oregon remains at the top of the Coaches' Poll

September 12, 2012

By Travis Rae, Communications and Sports Information Intern

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Southern Oregon continues to set atop the first edition of the NAIA Men's Cross Country Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office released Wednesday. The Raiders placed first in its season opener of the season, the Humboldt State Invitational. Southern Oregon received 19 of the 21 first-place votes and 590 points to earn the No. 1 ranking.

Cal State San Marcos and Oklahoma Baptist jumped two spots in this week's poll. The Cougars earned the last two first-place votes and tallied 558 points to gain the No. 2 position. The Bison received 549 points to receive the No. 3 ranking. Falling two spots in this week's poll is Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). The Warriors collected 541 points for the No. 4 spot. Rounding out the top five is Shawnee State (Ohio) who tallied 497 points.

Two teams that make the jump into the poll are No. 17 Arizona Christian and No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan.

Two programs, St. Francis (Ill.) (No. 9) and Park (Mo.) (No. 22) fell out of this week's poll.

Fourteen conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups are represented throughout the Top 25, led by the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) with four teams. Representing the GSAC are No. 7 The Master's (Calif.), No. 15 Westmont (Calif.), Arizona Christian and No. 21 Biola (Calif.).

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups. The first regular-season Top 25 poll will be announced on Sept. 19.

Notes: (All information dates back to 1999) Four teams have started the season ranked No. 1 and gone on to win the national championship: Former NAIA Member Malone (Ohio) - 2007, 08 and 09; Virginia Intermont - 2005 and 06; Former NAIA Member Minot State (N.D.) - 2002; Life (Ga.) - 1999 and 2000... There has only been one program that has been able to maintain the No. 1 ranking for an entire season with Malone accomplishing the feat in 2007 and 08... Southern Oregon has been ranked No. 1 13 times which ranks them four all-time; two behind former NAIA member Virginia Intermont... Malone has been ranked No. 1 the most with 38 selections... Arizona Christian enters the Top 25 for the first time in school history.